A brave dad will be walking and kayaking his way from Manchester to Ireland in memory of his sister - despite only learning to swim last year.

Alan Creedon will set off on his 400-mile trek on Friday morning, leaving behind his wife Beth and three-year-old daughter Rae.

The 39-year-old planned the event as he wanted to do something to commemorate the life of his sister Aoife, who died five years ago, aged 33.

She had a severe form of cerebral palsy which meant she could not talk, walk or communicate like most people.

Alan, who left his job as a vegetable grower with Sale-based Glebelands City Growers to concentrate on his challenge, will set off from his home in Levenshulme and spend the next two weeks making his way to his home town of Dingle, Ireland.

An old family photo of Alan with his siblings Susan, Aoife and Siun

He said: “Making the decision to do it was the hardest part and I did that about eight months ago. Since January I’ve been planning it properly.

“It was only last year that I decided to conquer my fears and learn how to swim. There is definitely a risk involved, but what’s life if you don’t take a few risks.

“I’m trying not to worry about any of it, but I will have to be focused for the kayaking. I’m preparing myself for that to be the hardest part.”

After walking out of Manchester along the Bridgewater Canal, Alan will spend his first night in the Cheshire countryside before moving on to Delamere Forest, Chester and on into North Wales, arriving on Anglesey on May 15.

His nights will be spent either staying with friends or at camp sites en route and he’s open to offers of a night’s accommodation along the way.

Once at Anglesey he will join Mike Alexander, a senior instructor with The Outward Bound Trust, who has agreed to join him in a tandem sea kayak to cross the often treacherous Irish sea.

Alan with wife Beth and daughter Rae

The journey to Dun Laoighre in Dublin - on May 16 - will take up to 22 hours and will be 60 miles in length.

After that he’ll walk the remaining 220 miles to his parents’ home in Dingle.

Alan - who is raising funds for Manchester Mind, a self-funded mental health service and Camphill Dingle, a residential care home for people with autism, Down’s syndrome and cerebral palsy - admits it will be ‘an endurance test’.

He said: “It will be tough. My daughter knows that daddy is going on a big walk and my wife knows it’s something I need to do so she fully supports it.

“I want to not only do it for my sister but for these two important charities. I’ve suffered with anxiety myself and I understand the need to be open about it.

“I feel like mental health issues are seen as a weakness by society - it doesn’t support people who are perhaps not functioning in what is seen as a normal way and that makes me feel really sad.

“Hopefully this walk will raise awareness and keep these charities in the public eye.”

Alan will use a kayak to get across the Irish sea

Alan has a blog on his website walkforaoife.com where he will be posting photos and video updates as he goes. He hopes to meet with his wife and daughter at certain points along the way and will meet them again in Ireland at the end of his challenge.